Joseph Sargent

Joseph Sargent (22 July1925 – 22 December2014; age 89), born Giuseppe Danielle Sorgente, was a prolific film and television director. He started out as a Broadway chorus performer and actor before turning to directing. Among his many credits is Star Trek: The Original Series, for which he directed the first regular episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver". He has also directed episodes of such classic television series as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive (1965, with William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols' son Kyle Johnson), The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Invaders.

Sargent was nominated for nine Emmy awards, winning four. His first nomination came for his direction of the 1970 TV movie Tribes. His second nomination, for 1973's The Marcus-Nelson Murders -- which served as the pilot for the television series Kojak -- earned him his first win. This movie featured Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guest star Lawrence Pressman and TOS guest star Bill Zuckert in the cast. Sargent also won Emmys for 1985's Love Is Never Silent, 1990's Caroline?, and 1992's Miss Rose White (with Thomas Kopache). He earned additional nominations for 1980's Amber Waves, 1999's A Lesson Before Dying, 2004's Something the Lord Made (with Gabrielle Union), and 2005's Warm Springs (with Matt Malloy).

He was married to "The Deadly Years" actress Carolyn Nelson since 1970, and directed her in several of his projects, including the aforementioned The Marcus-Nelson Murders and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.